Chapter 4 - My Father Had Asked Elias to Protect Jake Long Before His “Death,” and Rebecca Had Been Trapped Between Two Men She Was Told to BetrayI showed Rebecca the letter.
She broke down.
“He asked me to help.”
“Why didn't you?”
“I tried.”
“You attacked your own son.”
“I never wanted that.”
“You stood there.”
“They had a gun.”
“So did you.”
She closed her eyes.
“I wasn't brave enough.”
For the first time, I believed her.
Not because I forgave her.
Because I could see the fear she had carried.
She explained.
Nineteen years earlier, my father discovered a secret network.
The organization was called The Circle.
It included wealthy families.
Politicians.
Judges.
Lawyers.
Businessmen.
People who could make problems disappear.
My father wanted out.
The Circle wanted his money.
Then Jake was born.
My father realized the family had another vulnerability.
Me.
He believed if something happened to me, they could use my son.
So he planned ahead.
He arranged for Elias to watch Jake.
He arranged for Rebecca to stay close to the network.
She hated him for it.
But she complied because they threatened her.
On Christmas Eve, Elias contacted her.
He said the Circle had discovered the box.
They wanted it.
Rebecca panicked.
She contacted her family.
They decided to force Jake to reveal it.
That's what the seventeen people had been doing.
But they didn't know what was inside.
They thought it contained money.
It didn't.
It contained information.
Evidence.
Names.
Enough to destroy The Circle.
I asked:
“Why didn't my father expose them?”
“He didn't have time.”
“Why fake his death?”
“Because he was trying to disappear.”
“Then why leave the box?”
“He knew you would eventually need it.”
I looked at Rebecca.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Elias said if I did, they'd kill Jake.”
“Do you know what they almost did anyway?”
She cried.
“I know.”
I didn't forgive her.
Not yet.
But I understood.
Then my security chief entered.
“We found Elias.”
“Where?”
“An old monastery in upstate New York.”
I stared.
“Bring him.”
“Sir.”
I looked toward Rebecca.
“Keep her here.”
Then I left.
The monastery was abandoned.
Snow covered the ground.
We entered through a broken side door.
Inside, candles were burning.
A man stood in the chapel.
Gray hair.
Scarred face.
Older than I remembered.
Elias Grant.
He turned.
“Andrew.”
I raised my weapon.
“You were at my son's house.”
“Yes.”
“You let seventeen people attack him.”
“I didn't.”
“You were there?”
“I arrived too late.”
“Then why did you watch?”
“Because I needed to know if the boy had told anyone.”
I stared.
“What?”
He sighed.
“Your father didn't put the box in Jake's hands for money.”
“I know.”
“Then you know why they wanted it.”
I nodded.
“The Circle.”
He smiled.
“You're finally awake.”
I hated the phrase.
“What is in the box?”
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
He looked at me.
“Your father built the network.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He created The Circle.”
My blood ran cold.
“No.”
“He created it to protect your family.”
“And then?”
“Men like us always forget why we start.”
Elias looked tired.
“Your father became the thing he hated.”
I didn't know what to say.
May you like
Then he said:
“And he wanted you to end it.”
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